Teacher gets burns during demo in the chemistry class

In a fire incident, a teacher got first and second degree burns while conducting an experiment in front of the students in a chemistry class. The school science classrooms had emergency showers and the teacher doused flames by using it.
It is highly appreciable that the school management has kept emergency showers in the classroom which is rare.
However, one could have checked the material safety data sheet (MSDS) for the chemicals handled before the experiment. Or, was there any slip during the experiment, though the hazards are known?

Fatality at a Zirconium-Titanium Facility

It is reported that two persons died in a facility that handles zirconium-Titanium. Read the information from the link here. The incident occurred during packing of titanium powder into bricks. Federal Investigators Seek Cause Of Fatal Hancock Co. Blast - News Story - WTOV Steubenville. CSB in a statement stated that it is deploying 4-member investigating team. Internet search shows some accidents/injuries during the handling of pyrophoric materials, in which some useful information can be found in these links. LINK1, LINK2. 

1. Zirconium, titanium, thorium and other metal fires have great potential to cause injuries and fatalities as the thermal radiation can initiate fires in the surrounding areas. They can easily ignite and explode when subjected to friction/impact. It is well known that explosions be devastating in confined spaces. 
2. In combination with insufficient water, the metal fires can grow bigger due to release of hydrogen and can also cause sputtering leading to flying of burning splinters all around (some times to a few hundred meters distance - source: internet search) and cause secondary fires.
3. The zirconium fires are intense and bright and can cause retinal damage when viewed with naked eye. The fire once initiated can reach great heights in no time depending upon the quantity of material involved and size, when turnings are involved. It is reported extensively in literature and NFPA that metal powder/dust can cause dust explosion and friction is sufficient to initiate this.
4. TEC powder in portable extinguishers is effective only for small fires and big fires can be extinguished only by application of large quantities of water from all directions by experienced fire fighters. Further, continuous watch for at least a day is required after extinguishing as it is likely that the material under the heap can keep burning for a long time.
5. As per the safety advice mentioned in MSDS/NFPA, and as it is with any chemical, lesser the inventory, the more safer it is. We can't sit assuming that everything is safe when we are only storing and not handling / processing, which proved very costly during the famous Bhopal accident.
6. Pyrophoric materials need very little energy to catch fire / explode and it is stated that the static charge accumulated on a person is sufficient to initiate fire of this dust/powder. For a safe work place, it is recommended to use antistatic apparel, provide earthing to discharge static charge on the equipment/containers, flameproof/explosion proof electrical fittings, maintain at least 60% humidity, etc in the work area.
7. The powder generated should be incinerated every shift / day (depending upon the quantity) under controlled conditions so that the material can be rendered safe and can be disposed off as landfill.

Poisonous fumes from incinerator near Indore - six lost vision?

Y’day a scrolling news item in TV channels and news reports today mentioned about six labourers losing part of their vision because of toxic fumes from an incineration plant in Pithampur, while cleaning solid waste. It is stated that all labourers suffered symptoms of insecticide poisoning (organo phosphorous) like blurred vision, vomiting. Before taking up any chemical handling work, engineers and supervisors should refer to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) of the chemicals to be handled. It will give information on nature of hazards, handling methods, personal protective equipment (PPE) to be used, etc. It is mentioned that workers did not use any PPE, though the company that engaged the persons is a reputed one.


If the companies do not follow safe procedures and do not ensure supervision, public will lose faith in the industry and whatever they do later will be of no use.

Further, such accidents will show that more inspectors are required to inspect more frequently the premises of the organizations, audit their systems and the findings have to be put in public domain. It may be remembered that though the auditors from head quarters of UCC reported serious nature of hazards in the Bhopal unit, as the report was not known to many, the inaction could not be questioned in time and only after the worst chemical disaster, all concerned started questioning.

Therefore, it should be made mandatory about making availability of audit findings (by regulators as well as certifying agencies) also public like the provisions of Factories Act 1948 under Chapter IV-A and should attract penal provisions like those for violations of Sec 41-B,C,H